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 Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:41 am
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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:48 am
PART I. PHYSICAL Full name:: Reuben (Ben) Malcolm
Reasons for the name(s):: his bond was a dignified man and insisted on giving him a 'proper' name; Reuben took his last name after his bond's first.
Date of Birth/Apparent Age/Approximate Age:: April 29/lower 30's/old enough to have been bonded during the massacres
If he/she was alive during the massacres, was he/she bonded? To whom? yes; to a decently wealthy, generous man named Malcolm Conaway. He was a busy sort of social nobleman, but treated his Jivvin kindly and with respect; Reuben was very fond of him and admired his social grace.
While Conaway did have a tendency to mingle only with "his own kind," (i.e. other rich snobs) he was generally well liked among the peasants and poor because of his frequent donations to their livelihood (food, medical help, tax relief). When the massacres reached his home, it was largely a matter of tragic accident and stupidity. A messenger comes from a nearby town, spouting news of how the revolution's started, how the Duke (or whatever) of wherever has been removed from power and they should all rejoice; and the peasants listen, because that is what peasants are apt to do, and because they themselves have felt the unfair tug of distantly-determined politics and recognize what this could mean to them. And in a reverie of heavily drunken celebration, someone suggests that they do the same to that lousy, no-good noble up the hill, with no one having the good sense to remember just who that lousy, no-good noble was. Thus an angry, drunken mob was formed, at whose hands Reuben's entire world would meet its end.
Rank:: Afya
If a Daewl, what is his/her one power?:: n/a
Skin Tone:: a dark, sickly sort of olive.
Height:: he'd probably be around 5'11'' if he didn't slouch so.
Weight/Body Build:: thin and angular, but not so much boney; like one who used to be fairly muscular but has withered from a mix of laziness and malnutrition.
Hair:: 'broccoli' hair, black and curly. sideburns.
Eyes:: narrow, twinkling and red. Distinct 'check-mark' eyebrows.
Ear colours/markings:: dark dull green, blending to reddish black at the tips; small red-black stripes
Tail colours/markings:: the same green, with a reddish dorsal stripe which fades before hitting the tip.
Peculiar Physical Traits:: his left leg is amputated from the knee down.
Distinguishing Marks:: 1 1/2 legs, several small scars on face, crutches
Health:: fair, aside from his leg. But he doesn't eat as well as he should, and is prone to coughs.
Senses:: enabled?... all good; although he has very selective hearing, and occasional sinus problems, so his smelling isn't always there.
Voice:: warm, warbling and soft. Like a bubbling hot spring. The louder he speaks, the clearer his voice seems to ring.
Mannerisms:: polite, submissive, rather annoyingly so. Sometimes seems distant and thoughtful, but mostly he's really cheerful, shallow, and friendly. Likes to be helpful and to make others smile. He's got a weird habit of leaning over his crutches and rubbing his wrists together when he's trying to think of what to say.
Clothes/shoes/accessories:: hand-me-downs. When he lost his leg, Reuben basically gave up on having a job, so now he chiefly survives on donations. So his clothes are very muddled and mismatched- sweaters, shirts, vest, wraps - red/brown tones mostly, all in a general state of disrepair. / a black-and-white tennis shoe (which apparently he found, it having washed down the river. The council's still not too pleased to have the 'human' item around, but Reuben insists it's more comfortable than any other shoe he's worn, and, considering his condition, they let him keep it.) / crutches, a shiny gold pocket watch, sometimes (rarely) a peg leg and cane. Arrg.
Eating habits/mannerisms/tastes:: Reuben mooches off of others for pretty much everything, so he eats whatever he's given, which isn't a whole lot. That's good enough for him, though; he seems even to enjoy being hungry (it's his form of penance). He is extremely fond of red meat.
His table manners are not the best. He makes an effort not to eat too quickly or with his fingers too often, but he has a habit of smacking and 'mmm'-ing appreciatively with every bite.
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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:50 am
PART II. GENERAL Occupation/Social Status in Rank:: vagabond, doer of odd jobs: firewood stacker, handyman, cleaner, whatever-er, and when Raechel can guilt him into it, healer, watching over the sick. / Held in contempt by many fellow Afyas who think he should take better care of himself, and many stuffy Daewls who think he's a moron. Watched over fondly by other ranks like a stray puppy.
Views on Rank responsibilities:: Perfectly respecting of those who uphold them, but not caring to himself; prefers to have no responsibilities at all, thanks. Does the bare minimum to keep trouble off his back.
Education/ Intelligence:: Was once very well read and educated by his bond, but stopped caring after family was, er, interrupted. As for his intelligence, he has a great capacity to learn, and a curious mind, but not the quickest wit.
Marital Status:: single
Political Thoughts/ Views of Ranks and Vhaid:: Reuben is greatly appreciative of the other ranks' concern and the rigid structure they give the village; he finds it very reassuring and stabilizing. He doesn't mind that Afyas aren't quite as respected, as long as they are protected.
Beliefs/ Values/ Strength of Beliefs:: Reuben believes that there's a light at the end of tunnel, but it must be a frickin' long tunnel, indeed. No, really. He believes that one ought to set aside their past and keep moving forward with courage and optimism. Or, he wants to believe that, but struggles daily to find the strength to follow his own advice. Still, he'll prod -you- to follow it 'til the cows come home.
What is his/her usual disposition?:: cheerful, jocular, servantile, playful, but on careful inspection, marked with a sort of underlying irony or bitterness.
Optimist/ Pessimist? :: short-term optimist, long-term 'there's-no-point-to-anything' pessimist
Confident/Self-conscious? :: confident, but only so much as that if he were self-conscious, he'd never be able to get up in the morning. He's humble and sensitive, as most Afyas are.
How does he/she feel about his/her appearance? :: indifferently, as is evidenced by his lack of concern in his clothes. He's probably embarrassed by it, truthfully, but knows that he can't hide his leg or his scars so they're not worth worrying about, are they?
Most important possession:: his gold pocket watch, which, you guessed it, was Malcolm's. He takes excellent care of it, even though it has long stopped ticking.
Talents :: He can juggle 5 balls, and can play the violin, although you'd be hard-pressed to get him to do either in public.
What is a normal day like for this Jivvin?:: He wakes up, yawns, greets his latest room mate, flounces out of the house, says hi to everyone he encounters until someone gives him a job to do, does said job, enjoys some time eating and hanging out with whoever will give him food and hang out with him, finishes the day as broke as he started.
What is a normal rainy day like for this Jivvin?:: he can't go outside when it rains (his crutches get stuck in the mud) so he basically just sits inside, playing the violin and reminiscing. He takes advantage of rainy days to vent all his depression and frustration that he normally conceals behind his smiling face. Or maybe he just drinks and builds card castles. Depends.
Greatest Fear:: Looking in the mirror and seeing what he has become >:[
What does he/she want most?:: Superficially, to be able to make a living playing his fiddle in the tavern, without being bothered to be 'productive' instead, and to make people happy by doing so. Inside, he really wants to move forward with his life, but he's scared and stuck in his rut of semi-comfortable poverty.
note: Reuben was once a happy, comfortable noble-jivvin with a loving family. When the massacres reached his master's house, and they each were released by their bonds, Reuben took it upon himself to guide his family into the forest and away from danger. But he made crucial mistakes along the way, and saw his love killed before his own eyes, and his children scattered, presumably killed as well. To this day he feels guilty for the death of his family and feels he has failed both them and his bond, who trusted him to lead them to safety. He has never been able to get over the guilt, and now lives his life behind a cheerful facade, treating himself like the lowlife piece of dirt he thinks he is.
As for his leg, that was what he took away from that 'crucial mistake' of an encounter. While Carolina was killed, only his leg was damaged, but such that once he reached the Village, even Raechal could do nothing more for him, and it was amputated. He'll never know how he managed to hobble away from that disaster without the mob catching him.
Major Goals::
1. live to witness a time when Jivvins no longer need to hide away in the forest.
2. Reunite with his kids??
3. Find the will to get off his butt and become self-sufficient (he keeps putting this goal off...)
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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:55 am
PART III. RELATIONSHIPS Significant Other/Relationship:: none, currently. He was once deeply in love with a female Jivvin, Carolina-- a darling purple Uuthli, bond to his own bond's friend, perfect in every way-- and had four children with her (one clutch). At the time, the humans frowned on the 'marriage' of non-human creatures, or else he would have made her his wife. But she was killed during the massacres.
Who does he/she live with?:: At the moment, a busy, generous Sargtlin, named Roy, who is rarely home, is letting him stay in his attic, provided he does the dishes. It's Roy's way of forcing Reuben to exert himself, making the cripple climb the stairs every day. May sound somewhat cruel, but he means well, and Reuben appreciates it.
Who does he/she spend the most time with?:: Roy, the tavern barkeep, Raechal, and anyone else who'll give him the time of day.
Father/Relationship with him/Rank/Current Status:: supposedly a deep blue, strong Sargtlin of excellent build and breeding, but Reuben's conception was chiefly a matter of arrangement by the humans and he never new him. If he is still alive, then neither are aware of their relation.
Mother/Relationship with her/Rank/Current Status:: A yellow, red-striped Daewl named Deidra. She raised him in a very business-like way, always knowing he would be given away to some lucky nobleman, so their relationship was formal, but still warm. She was killed during the massacres, and Reuben misses her as any son would, but has long gotten over her death.
Siblings/Ranks/Current Status:: Reuben had two siblings-- a sister, Daphne, who is a yellow Uuthli, and a brother, Montico, a red-and-blue Daewl. They were given away to other noblemen just as he was when they were still young. As far as he knows, both were killed in the massacres.
Best Friend/Rank/Current Status:: Reuben doesn't really have a 'best friend'-- or if he did, I guess it would have to be Raechel. Although he is willing to spend time with and joke with almost anyone, there are few Jivvins he feels he can confide in-- however, Raechel is one of them. She's who he goes to whenever he's feeling especially despondent, and she always lifts his spirits with her company.
Feelings toward animals:: animals are fuzzy and nice and what's not to like? Actually, he thinks they're amusing, but stupid. He mocks them (you know, he's the person who'd talk in a sweet voice to a puppy but call it 'you smelly little moron, you!') and is sometimes embarrassed that his own race so resembles one. The exception is deer. Yes, he loves to eat them-- but in their living form, he finds them oddly beautiful and enchanting. On one of his more well-fed days of idleness, one might find him lounging around the deer pens, chatting with the herders and watching the mysterious creatures out of the corner of his eye...
How does he/she view his/her family?:: He was fond of them, and mourns them as one does a long-past death. He thinks his mother would be ashamed of him, and wonders what his sister and brother would be like if they were around. Towards his father, he feels nothing. For Carolina, he feels the deepest regret and guilt; for his children, he feels the same way, but with a fleeting, unrealistic hope that they somehow survived.
How does he/she view his/her friends?:: as instrumental-- he wants to get close to someone, to have a 'real friend', but feeling that no one could ever truly take him seriously or be discreet enough to understand him, he doesn't try very hard. In the meantime, they are entertaining and feed him. And like any Afya, he is very attentive of them and likes to make them happy. He's the sort of guy who will make you feel like a guest in your own home, hobbling around and doing things for you despite your insistence that he don't.
How does his/her family view him/her?:: They only knew him as he was in the past-- respectful, noble, dignified. They viewed him with the same elevated pride and formality which all Jivvins at the time viewed each other.
How does his/her friends view them?:: They either think he's funny and enjoy his presence, or they think he's a pest who needs to get a real job. He is either loved or perpetually condescended by everyone. Mostly the former, but everyone takes their turns being annoyed at him.
Who is his/her hero?:: Aleda. She's strong, powerful, determined, a great leader. Reuben admires her immensely. He fawns over her and showers her with flattery, to the point where she is quite exasperated with him. But it's all in good fun.
btw: Moo, I checked the genetics on this against your punnet square, and discovered that as long as his dad has a specific genotypes (SsAaBb, instead of the default Sargtlin), all the ranks of Reuben and his siblings are possible. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I know an un-geneologized Jivvin is supposed to take the default, but I'm claiming executive overright. :3
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:00 am
XD i like him. I think that he and Kamin could either be friends or a weird type of enemy. What is it with one legged/broken legged jivvin men that sponge off others and have crushes on aleda XD .... the poor woman attracts cripples.
i think this form is excellent.
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